Evolution of the synapse transcriptome

The vast cognitive repertoire seen within the animal kingdom from rudimentary forms of habituation and information-processing to highly complex cognitive processes that confers the ability to adapt to challenging environments is a topic of great interest. The presynaptic and postsynaptic terminals of the synapse form an immensely structured protein network, the origin of which has been proposed to precede the origin of multicellularity in elementary cell signalling pathways. Such molecules were central for the arrangement of macromolecular complexes through genome duplications and posterior diversification in the vertebrate evolution. Yet, mutations in the postsynaptic density (PSD) are associated to more than 130 neurological alterations. It is therefore fundamental to better understand brain gene expression and evolution of these genes. Proteomic analysis of the synapse have characterised more than 1,500 proteins, however strikingly, there is a lack of research using recent transcriptomics approaches. This PhD thesis contributes to understanding of comparative synaptic biology by exploiting NGS technologies to generate a comprehensive analysis of gene expression of brain tissues. A de novo transcriptome assembly pipeline was developed and employed to that end. We sequenced and generated a de novo transcriptome from brain tissues of zebrafish, bat and lion to explore the presence of genes known to be essential in learning and memory (Emes and Grant, 2012). To adequately provide a richer understanding of neurological diseases in humans, it is essential to investigate the magnitude of which metazoan genes shared orthologs. Transcripts enriched and specific to each tissue were determined, along with the analysis of which mouse orthologous genes were present in the brain, synaptosome (SYN) and PSD of zebrafish, bat and lion. This research revealed a strong conservation of PSD and SYN components, where the genes with the highest expression in the three species, i.e., cell-adhesion and signalling enzymes represent the core adaptive machinery of the ancestral synapse. In addition, this work demonstrates a substantial connection of highly expressed genes with critical neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting the urgency to improve the understanding of synaptic dysfunction. Lastly, this study provides the first exploration of bat and lion transcripts encoded in the brain, SYN and PSD, in which species-specific adaptations were found, along with evidence of convergent evolution in the echolocating bat

Los alimentos transgénicos como disruptores endocrinos revisión bibliográfica

Introduction: genetically modified foods have been the subject of debate and concern due to their potential impact on human health and the environment. One of the less understood aspects of this controversy is their possible role as endocrine disruptors, substances that can interfere with the hormonal system and have detrimental effects on health. General Objective: the general objective of this research is to characterize genetically modified foods as endocrine disruptors by exploring their properties and mechanisms of action that could affect the human endocrine system. Methodology: a comprehensive literature review of scientific studies and publications related to genetically modified foods and their potential as endocrine disruptors was conducted. Studies addressing specific properties of genetically modified foods and their possible disruptive mechanisms in the endocrine system were selected. Results: the literature review revealed significant evidence suggesting that certain components present in genetically modified foods may have endocrine-disrupting properties. Studies highlighting the impact on reproductive health, thyroid function, obesity, and other aspects of human health were identified. Conclusions: genetically modified foods can act as endocrine disruptors, raising concerns about their effects on human health. Further research is essential to better understand the underlying mechanisms and assess the safety of genetically modified foods in relation to exposure to endocrine disruptors. Additionally, the need for effective regulations and public awareness to comprehensively address this issue is emphasized.  Introducción: los alimentos transgénicos han sido objeto de debate y preocupación debido a su potencial impacto en la salud humana y el medio ambiente. Uno de los aspectos menos comprendidos de esta controversia es su posible papel como disruptores hormonal, sustancias que pueden interferir con el sistema endócrino y tener efectos perjudiciales en la salud. Objetivo General: el objetivo general de esta investigación es caracterizar a los alimentos transgénicos como disruptores endocrinos, explorando sus propiedades y mecanismos de acción que podrían afectar el sistema endocrino humano. Metodología: se llevó a cabo una revisión bibliográfica exhaustiva de estudios científicos y publicaciones relacionadas con alimentos transgénicos y su potencial como disruptores endocrinos. Se seleccionaron investigaciones que abordaban propiedades específicas de los alimentos transgénicos y sus posibles mecanismos de acción disruptiva en el sistema endocrino. Resultados: la revisión bibliográfica reveló evidencia significativa que sugiere que ciertos componentes presentes en alimentos transgénicos pueden tener propiedades disruptoras endocrinas. Se identificaron estudios que resaltan el impacto en la salud reproductiva, la función tiroidea, la obesidad y otros aspectos de la salud humana. Conclusiones: los alimentos transgénicos pueden actuar como disruptores endocrinos, lo que plantea preocupaciones sobre sus efectos en la salud humana. Es fundamental llevar a cabo investigaciones adicionales para comprender mejor los mecanismos subyacentes y evaluar la seguridad de los alimentos transgénicos en relación con la exposición a disruptores endocrinos. Además, se destaca la necesidad de regulaciones efectivas y concienciación pública para abordar este tema de manera integral

Lavados por aspiración colonoscópica para el perfil metataxonómico mucoso de las alteraciones del tracto gastrointestinal asociadas a la espondiloartritis

El estudio de la microbiota del tracto GI de pacientes con espondiloartritis (SpA) se ha centrado en el análisis de muestras de heces, que retratan principalmente la microbiota luminal. El objetivo de este estudio era determinar la contribución de la microbiota de la mucosa y la microbiota luminal a la disbiosis intestinal en la espondiloartritis, utilizando lavados por aspiración colonoscópica (LAC), una alternativa reciente para los estudios regionales del tracto gastrointestinal. Se analizaron 59 CAL (de colon sigmoide e íleon distal), y 41 muestras de heces, de 32 pacientes con SpA y 7 individuos sanos, utilizando perfiles metataxonómicos dirigidos al gen 16S rRNA. Se halló una alta prevalencia de manifestaciones del tracto gastrointestinal entre los pacientes con SpA (65,3%). El perfil metataxonómico confirmó que las muestras de CAL del tracto GI inferior (colon o íleon) presentaban un bacterioma distintivo e indiferenciado, distinto del encontrado en las muestras de heces o en el inicio del tracto GI (cavidad oral [OC]). Las muestras del tracto gastrointestinal inferior y las heces de los pacientes con EI mostraron un comportamiento similar al de la microbiota del grupo con EII, con una riqueza y diversidad microbianas reducidas, en comparación con los controles sanos. Curiosamente, se observó un aumento de los taxones proinflamatorios en los pacientes con EI, como la familia Enterobacteriaceae (principalmente en el íleon), Succinivibrio spp. y Prevotella stercorea. Por el contrario, los pacientes con EA presentaron una disminución significativa de los productores de AGCC Coprococcus catus y Eubacterium biforme. Nuestros datos apoyan el valor de las muestras de CAL para el estudio regional del tracto gastrointestinal y aportan información sobre los posibles "taxones perturbadores" implicados en los trastornos asociados al tracto gastrointestinal observados en los pacientes con SpA.he study of the GI-tract microbiota of spondylarthritis (SpA) patients has focused on the analysis of feces samples, that picture mostly the luminal microbiota. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of mucosal and luminal microbiome to the gut dysbiosis in SpA, using colonoscopy aspiration lavages (CAL), a recent alternative for regional studies of the GI-tract. We analyzed 59 CAL (from sigmoid colon and distal ileum), and 41 feces samples, from 32 SpA patients and 7 healthy individuals, using 16S rRNA gene-targeted metataxonomic profiling. It was found high prevalence of GI-tract manifestations among SpA patients (65.3%). Metataxonomic profiling, confirmed CAL samples from the lower GI tract (colon or ileum) presented a distinctive and undifferentiated bacteriome and separate from that found in feces’ samples or in the beginning of the GI tract (oral cavity (OC)). Lower GI-tract samples and feces of SpA patients exhibited similar behavior to the microbiota of IBD group with reduced microbial richness and diversity, comparing to the healthy controls. Interestingly, it was found increase in proinflammatory taxa in SpA patients, such as Enterobacteriaceae family (mostly in the ileum), Succinivibrio spp. and Prevotella stercorea. Conversely, SpA patients presented significant decrease in the SCFA producers Coprococcus catus and Eubacterium biforme. Our data support the value of CAL samples for the regional study of GI-tract and contribute with information of potential “disruptor taxa” involved in the GI-tract associated disorders observed in SpA patients

VIGICOP: autonomous surveillance robots with Sodar detection and autonomous navigator

The main goal of the project described in this paper is to create a security system using autonomous surveillance robots that use SODAR-like detection system sensors, working with acoustic signals in air environment and navigation base on Geographic Information System and Markov's models. The surveillance system based on SONAR provides great information from the environment, even lets you see behind objects (rebounds effects) whose manipulation offers a great added value to surveillance The guide system will implement in one hand a local navigation module directed to avoid obstacles based on classical techniques and using the new SODAR sensor. On the other hand a global navigation module will be implemented using preset trajectories and gradient techniques and an auto-location system. One of the greatest challenges obtained is the definition of the VIGICOPVar variable that defines, depending on the environment and safety parameters, the probability of intrusion. Surveillance experts of GRUPO NORTE (multinational company with security expertise of more than 38 years) have worked In the definition and validation of the model. The monitoring robots will be controlled in a centralized way from an alarm center from where you can manage all information relating to intrusion detected. VIGICOP is the low cost surveillance robot which provides new/full information interactive surveillance informatio

Evolution of gene expression levels in the male reproductive organs of Anopheles mosquitoes

Modifications in gene expression determine many of the phenotypic differentiations between closely related species. This is particularly evident in reproductive tissues, where evolution of genes is more rapid, facilitating the appearance of distinct reproductive characteristics which may lead to species isolation and phenotypic variation. Large-scale, comparative analyses of transcript expression levels have been limited until recently by lack of inter-species data mining solutions. Here, by combining expression normalisation across lineages, multivariate statistical analysis, evolutionary rate, and protein–protein interaction analysis, we investigate ortholog transcripts in the male accessory glands and testes across five closely related species in the Anopheles gambiae complex. We first demonstrate that the differentiation by transcript expression is consistent with the known Anopheles phylogeny. Then, through clustering, we discover groups of transcripts with tissue-dependent expression patterns conserved across lineages, or lineage-dependent patterns conserved across tissues. The strongest associations with reproductive function, transcriptional regulatory networks, protein–protein subnetworks, and evolutionary rate are found for the groups of transcripts featuring large expression differences in lineage or tissue-conserved patterns

Multi-Ancestry Genome-Wide Association Analyses Improve Resolution of Genes and Pathways Influencing Lung Function and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Risk

Lung-function impairment underlies chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and predicts mortality. In the largest multi-ancestry genome-wide association meta-analysis of lung function to date, comprising 580,869 participants, we identified 1,020 independent association signals implicating 559 genes supported by ≥2 criteria from a systematic variant-to-gene mapping framework. These genes were enriched in 29 pathways. Individual variants showed heterogeneity across ancestries, age and smoking groups, and collectively as a genetic risk score showed strong association with COPD across ancestry groups. We undertook phenome-wide association studies for selected associated variants as well as trait and pathway-specific genetic risk scores to infer possible consequences of intervening in pathways underlying lung function. We highlight new putative causal variants, genes, proteins and pathways, including those targeted by existing drugs. These findings bring us closer to understanding the mechanisms underlying lung function and COPD, and should inform functional genomics experiments and potentially future COPD therapies

Evolución urbana de un sector de la ciudad de Tortosa durante la Antigüedad: intervenciones arqueológicas en la calle de Sant Domènech

The study of the ancient past of the city of Tortosa suffers from a delay of several decades in comparison with other cities with a similar heritage. In order to mitigate that lack, the Seminari de Protohistòria i Arqueologia (GRESEPIA) de la Universitat Rovira i Virgili, of Tarragona, has been leading a research project that has provided very interesting results, particulary from the archaeological excavations carried out in Sant Domènech street in Tortosa. In this area of the old part of the city, two graves belonging to an extensive late Roman necropolis have been discovered, as well as several early Roman walls and, what is more significant, the remains of an iberian fortification. The discovery of this fortification confirms the long-speculated presence of an important pre-roman oppidum at the top of the Zuda hill, in the middle of the old part of the city.El estudio del pasado antiguo de Tortosa adolece de un retraso de varias décadas respecto al de otras ciudades con un patrimonio semejante. Para paliar este déficit, hace ya algunos años que el Seminari de Protohistoria i Arqueologia (GRESEPIA) de la Universitat Rovira i Virgili de Tarragona está llevando a cabo un proyecto de investigación, con unos resultados muy interesantes proporcionados, entre otras, por las intervenciones arqueológicas llevadas a cabo en la calle Sant Domènech de Tortosa. En este sector del casco antiguo de la ciudad han aparecido dos sepulturas correspondientes a una extensa área de necrópolis bajo-imperial, varias estructuras alto-imperiales, y finalmente, los restos de una fortificación ibérica. El hallazgo de esta construcción defensiva supone la confirmación de la existencia, largamente hipotetizada, de un importante oppidum prerromano en el cerro de la Zuda, que dominaría el núcleo antiguo de la ciudad

Protein Identification of Spermatozoa and Seminal Plasma in Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus)

17 Pág. Departamento de Reproducción animalProteins play an important role in many reproductive functions such as sperm maturation, sperm transit in the female genital tract or sperm-oocyte interaction. However, in general, little information concerning reproductive features is available in the case of aquatic animals. The present study aims to characterize the proteome of both spermatozoa and seminal plasma of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) as a model organism for cetaceans. Ejaculate samples were obtained from two trained dolphins housed in an aquarium. Spermatozoa and seminal plasma were analyzed by means of proteomic analyses using an LC-MS/MS, and a list with the gene symbols corresponding to each protein was submitted to the DAVID database. Of the 419 proteins identified in spermatozoa and 303 in seminal plasma, 111 proteins were shared by both. Furthermore, 70 proteins were identified as involved in reproductive processes, 39 in spermatozoa, and 31 in seminal plasma. The five most abundant proteins were also identified in these samples: AKAP3, ODF2, TUBB, GSTM3, ROPN1 for spermatozoa and CST11, LTF, ALB, HSP90B1, PIGR for seminal plasma. In conclusion, this study provides the first characterization of the proteome in cetacean sperm and seminal plasma, opening the way to future research into new biomarkers, the analysis of conservation capacity or possible additional applications in the field of assisted reproductive technologies.This research was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2019-106380RB-I00/AEI/10.1303/501100011033) and PGC2018-094781-B-I00 (MCINN/AEI/FEDER, UE), and Oceanográfica Foundation.Peer reviewe

J-PLUS: The javalambre photometric local universe survey

ABSTRACT: TheJavalambrePhotometric Local UniverseSurvey (J-PLUS )isanongoing 12-band photometricopticalsurvey, observingthousands of squaredegrees of theNorthernHemispherefromthededicated JAST/T80 telescope at the Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre (OAJ). The T80Cam is a camera with a field of view of 2 deg2 mountedon a telescopewith a diameter of 83 cm, and isequippedwith a uniquesystem of filtersspanningtheentireopticalrange (3500–10 000 Å). Thisfiltersystemis a combination of broad-, medium-, and narrow-band filters, optimallydesigned to extracttherest-framespectralfeatures (the 3700–4000 Å Balmer break region, Hδ, Ca H+K, the G band, and the Mg b and Ca triplets) that are key to characterizingstellartypes and delivering a low-resolutionphotospectrumforeach pixel of theobservedsky. With a typicaldepth of AB ∼21.25 mag per band, thisfilter set thusallowsforanunbiased and accuratecharacterization of thestellarpopulation in our Galaxy, itprovidesanunprecedented 2D photospectralinformationforall resolved galaxies in the local Universe, as well as accuratephoto-z estimates (at the δ z/(1 + z)∼0.005–0.03 precisionlevel) formoderatelybright (up to r ∼ 20 mag) extragalacticsources. Whilesomenarrow-band filters are designedforthestudy of particular emissionfeatures ([O II]/λ3727, Hα/λ6563) up to z < 0.017, theyalsoprovidewell-definedwindowsfortheanalysis of otheremissionlines at higherredshifts. As a result, J-PLUS has thepotential to contribute to a widerange of fields in Astrophysics, both in thenearbyUniverse (MilkyWaystructure, globular clusters, 2D IFU-likestudies, stellarpopulations of nearby and moderate-redshiftgalaxies, clusters of galaxies) and at highredshifts (emission-line galaxies at z ≈ 0.77, 2.2, and 4.4, quasi-stellarobjects, etc.). Withthispaper, wereleasethefirst∼1000 deg2 of J-PLUS data, containingabout 4.3 millionstars and 3.0 milliongalaxies at r <  21mag. With a goal of 8500 deg2 forthe total J-PLUS footprint, thesenumbers are expected to rise to about 35 millionstars and 24 milliongalaxiesbytheend of thesurvey.Funding for the J-PLUS Project has been provided by the Governments of Spain and Aragón through the Fondo de Inversiones de Teruel, the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO; under grants AYA2017-86274-P, AYA2016-77846-P, AYA2016-77237-C3-1-P, AYA2015-66211-C2-1-P, AYA2015-66211-C2-2, AYA2012-30789, AGAUR grant SGR-661/2017, and ICTS-2009-14), and European FEDER funding (FCDD10-4E-867, FCDD13-4E-2685